NO SWEAT

Bernard Gladstone, New York Times Special FeaturesCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Q--The outside of our toilet tank "sweats" a lot during the summer. Our water supply comes from our own private well and our house only has room air conditioners in each bedroom. Is there an inexpensive solution to this problem that we can take care of ourselves?

A--The well water coming into the tank is probably quite cold and this is what is causing the condensation to form on the outside of the tank--especially if the bathroom is not air conditioned. The least expensive solution would be to install foam-type insulation on the inside of the tank.

Drain and dry the inside of the tank first, then use a suitable adhesive to cement the foam inside the tank. It will also help if you leave the bathroom door open all the time (when the bedroom air conditioner is on). If these measures are not enough to solve the problem, then you may have to install a tempering valve that will mix a slight amount of hot water in with the cold water as it enters the tank.

Q--We have moss on our roof and have cut away some tree branches to let more sunshine through, but the moss is still returning. Is there any kind of solution we can apply that will remove this growth, yet won't harm the shingles or the grass when it drips off the roof?

A--Most mildewcide solutions will not harm the shingles, but many will be harmful to grass and shrubbery if not immediately flushed away with plenty of water. That's why it is good idea to have someone stand by with a hose to flush away runs and drips as they come off the roof.

You can mix your own mildewcide by adding one part liquid laundry bleach to five parts water, or you can buy a commercial mildewcide in many local garden supply stores and nurseries (one widely sold brand is De-Moss). These commercial mixtures tend to have more of a residual effect than a bleach solution does.